Lettuce 'Ithaca' Care Learn How To Grow Ithaca Lettuce Heads

How to Grow Ithaca Lettuce. Ithaca lettuce can be grown in USDA zones 3-9 in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Sow seeds directly outside after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed, or start seeds indoors a few weeks prior to transplanting outdoors. Sow seeds about 1/8 inch (3 mm.)

How do you grow head lettuce?
How do you grow Batavia lettuce?
How do you harvest Ithaca lettuce?
How long does it take to grow a head of iceberg lettuce?
Will lettuce regrow after cutting?
Does lettuce need full sun?
How often should Lettuce be watered?
How do I know when my lettuce is ready to harvest?
How do you know when iceberg lettuce is ready?
Is a head of lettuce good for you?
What is best fertilizer for lettuce?
What is the easiest lettuce to grow?

How do you grow head lettuce?

Head lettuce is usually grown from seeds started indoors during warm weather for a fall garden. Transplant head lettuce in rows 12 to 18 inches apart with 10 to 12 inches between each plant. You don't need lettuce to develop deep roots. In fact, you want to encourage leaf growth over rooting.

How do you grow Batavia lettuce?

Growing Batavian Lettuce

Lettuce prefers full sun in well worked soil. Add plenty of well-rotted organic material and make sure there is good drainage. Lettuce should be watered from under the leaves to prevent fungal diseases. Keep Batavian lettuces moderately moist but not soggy.

How do you harvest Ithaca lettuce?

Harvesting heads of lettuce is done by cutting them away from the stalk when the head is still firm. Use a sharp knife and simply make a clean cut below the head through the stem. The outer leaves may be removed if needed. Morning is the best time for the harvest as heads will be at their freshest.

How long does it take to grow a head of iceberg lettuce?

Exact number days to maturity varies, and Iceberg lettuce plants may take somewhere between 55 and 90 days to be ready for harvest. Like most lettuce, Iceberg has a tendency to bolt quickly in hot weather, so it's recommended to plant spring crops as early as possible.

Will lettuce regrow after cutting?

Head lettuce will die back, but most leaf-lettuce plants renew efforts to produce leaves, if regularly watered after trimming. Results will often be smaller than the original plant, but you may be able to harvest a second, good-tasting crop within as little as two weeks.

Does lettuce need full sun?

Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms. ... Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

How often should Lettuce be watered?

Water your lettuce plants every day—and even more often if it is extremely hot and dry. The lettuce leaves are mostly water and will desiccate and wilt in strong sunlight and dry soil. Lettuce roots tend to be shallow, so frequent watering is more important than deep watering.

How do I know when my lettuce is ready to harvest?

Examine green- and red-leaf lettuce varieties for ripeness about 50 to 60 days after planting, or when the outer leaves grow to between 4 and 5 inches tall. Ripe leaf lettuce develops rich-colored, well-ruffled and deeply lobed leaves upon maturity.

How do you know when iceberg lettuce is ready?

Signs of Ripeness

Iceberg lettuce can be harvested once it forms the pale round head familiar from the supermarket. Ideally, you'll pick the lettuce when the outer leaves are pale green, before they turn brown. If they do change to brown, or a flowering stalk appears, harvest immediately.

Is a head of lettuce good for you?

Despite its reputation for being a complete zero on the nutritional scale, iceberg lettuce provides significant amounts of vitamins A and K. It also has small amounts of many other healthy nutrients. Although it's low in fiber, it has a high water content, making it a refreshing choice during hot weather.

What is best fertilizer for lettuce?

Because lettuces are a “cut and come again” crop, they need plenty of fertilizer to help them keep producing new leaves for the next harvest. Feed lettuce plants every two weeks with a balanced water soluble or granular fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or a 5-5-5, diluted to half strength.

What is the easiest lettuce to grow?

Loose leaf lettuce, which refers to varieties that don't form any type of head, is considered the easiest to grow. It matures in 40-45 days, but no need to wait that long to enjoy it! You can start thinning (and eating the trimmings) in as little as three weeks.